Egypt's Brotherhood Calls for Purge of Old Guard

CAIRO - The Muslim Brotherhood, once banned and playing a growing role in the new Egypt, rejected a government reshuffle on Monday, calling for a purge of the old guard cabinet appointed by deposed leader Hosni Mubarak.

In a bid to placate pro-democracy activists, the reshuffle late on Sunday named several Mubarak opponents but disappointed those eager for a new line-up as key defence, foreign, justice, interior and finance portfolios were left unchanged.

Egypt's new military rulers, who took over after an 18-day uprising ended 30 years of Mubarak's iron rule, have said change in the constitution for elections in six months should be ready soon and hated emergency laws would be lifted before the polls.

But for many democracy advocates, who want a completely new cabinet with no links to Mubarak's corrupt and autocratic elite to govern the Arab world's most populous nation, the military needs to put fresh faces in office.

"No one offered us any post and had they done so, we would have refused because we request what the public demands that this government quit as it is part of the former regime," said Essam El-Erian, a senior member of the Brotherhood, which is Egypt's most organised political group.

"We want a new technocratic government that has no connection with the old era," he told Reuters.

The Brotherhood, viewed with suspicion by Washington and which wants a democracy wih Islamic principles, is represented on a constitutional change committee, a council to protect the revolution and will register as soon as new rules allow.

Uprisings in Egypt and Tunisia have spread like wildfire in the Arab world, threatening entrenched dynasties from Libya to Bahrain. The West has watched with alarm as long-time allies and foes came under threat, urging reform and restraint.

"OPEN POLITICAL SPACE"

Uncertainty remains over how much influence Egypt's military will seek to exert in reshaping a ruling system which it has propped up for six decades, with diplomats saying it is vital to "create an open political space". Wary of a clampdown, the Brotherhood took a cautious line early in the protests but has slowly assumed a more prominent role. It still treads warily, saying it will not field a presidential candidate or seek a majority in parliament.

Any sign the army is reneging on its promises of democracy and civilian rule in this key U.S. ally which has a peace treaty with Israel could reignite mass protests on the street.

Friday's celebrations which marked a week since Mubarak's overthrow served as a reminder to the military of people power.

The military on Monday announced an amnesty for weapons stolen during the revolution and there were pockets of protests in and around Cairo over pay and conditions despite an order aimed at ending strikes and protests damaging the economy.

In moves to appease democracy advocates, authorities said on Sunday they released 108 political prisoners and Prime Minister Ahmed Shafiq on Monday ordered that streets be renamed to honour some of the 356 "martyrs" who died in the revolt.

But it is increasingly clear that demands for a complete cabinet overhaul top many political activists' agendas along with lifting emergency rule and freeing political prisoners.

Mubarak, 82, shuffled his cabinet shortly after protests over corruption, poverty and repression erupted on Jan. 25 in an attempt to assuage rage over his autocratic rule and to try and distance himself from his own regime.

Field Marshal Mohamed Hussein Tantawi, who leads the ruling military council that is running Egypt, has been defence minister for 20 years and, according to diplomats, had the job thrust upon him and wants to get back to running the military.

THE NEW FACES

The latest reshuffle brought into the cabinet some new faces including three from registered political parties, a staggering change in Egypt where just four weeks ago opposition groups were harried, fragmented and weakened by decades of oppression.

Yehia el-Gamal, a professor of law and a leader in activist Mohamed ElBaradei's coalition called the National Association for Change, was appointed deputy prime minister.

Mounir Abdel Nour, secretary-general of the Wafd party, a decades old liberal, nationalist party, became minister in charge of tourism, which has been badly damaged by the unrest with visitors reluctant to visit the pyramids and the Nile.

In other changes, the post of information minister was scrapped after the former minister, Anas el-Fekky, angered protesters with state media playing down or ignoring protests in Tahrir Square and elsewhere for much of the revolution.

Amr Hamzawy, a member of the so-called council of "Wise Men" which sought to mediate a resolution between Mubarak and the protesters during the uprising, became minister for youth.

On the foreign policy front, the new military rulers, in their first diplomatic test, have approved the passage of two Iranian naval vessels through the Suez Canal, causing concern in Israel. Canal officials said on Sunday their passage had been delayed until Wednesday.

CAIRO - The Muslim Brotherhood, once banned and playing a growing role in the new Egypt, rejected a government reshuffle on Monday, calling for a purge of the old guard cabinet appointed by deposed leader Hosni Mubarak.In a bid to placate pro-democracy activists, the...